Composite cladding

Abstract

The panel 1 comprising a backing tray 2 and an external skin 3 with a layer of foam insulation material 4 therebetween. The external skin 3 has a plurality of mountings for fixing cladding elements such as tiles 5 to the panel to form a cladding. The mountings comprise rails 10 and fasteners 12 for fastening the rails 10 to the external skin 3. Each fastener 12 comprises an internal clamping sleeve 15 and a bolt 16. A hole is first drilled through the skin 3 and the sleeve 15 is inserted. On tightening of the bolt 16, the sleeve splays and is clamped against the inside surface of the external skin 3. To enhance the peel strength of the composite panel a layer 30 of an adhesive is applied to the internal face of the external skin 3.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A composite cladding panel comprising:
 an internal skin having an inner surface and an outer surface;   an external skin having an inner surface and an outer surface:   an insulating foam core between the inner surface of the internal skin and the inner surface of the external skin;   a layer of adhesive between the inner face of the external skin and the insulation;   a plurality of spaced-apart rails for fixing tiles or the like to the panel to form a cladding;   the rails being mounted to the outer surface of the external skin; and   a plurality of fasteners for fastening the rail to the panel;   wherein the adhesive acts to prevent delamination of the inner face of the external skin and the insulation.   
     
     
         22 . The panel as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the fasteners comprise clamping fasteners. 
     
     
         23 . The panel as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the fasteners comprise clamping fasteners; and wherein each clamping fastener comprises an internal sleeve and a bolt, the sleeve splaying on tightening of the bolt to the inner surface of the external skin. 
     
     
         24 . The panel as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the rails comprise receivers for receiving cladding elements such as bricks. 
     
     
         25 . The panel as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the adhesive comprises a pre-laydown adhesive. 
     
     
         26 . A composite cladding panel comprising:
 an internal steel skin,   an external steel skin having an internal face,   foam insulation material between the internal skin and the external skin, and   a plurality of mountings for fixing tiles or the like to the panel to form a cladding, the mountings comprising a plurality of fasteners and rails supported by the fasteners,   wherein the external skin is substantially planar, and a layer of adhesive is applied to the internal face of the external skin, and being compatible with the insulating material.   
     
     
         27 . The composite cladding panel as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein:
 the fasteners are clamping fastener, and   said clamping fasteners each comprise a bolt and an internal clamping sleeve, said sleeve being annular and being splayed out and clamped against the adhesive layer and the external skin, and extending inwardly into the insulation.   
     
     
         28 . A method for manufacturing a composite cladding panel comprising the steps of:
 manufacturing a composite insulating panel comprising an internal skin, an external skin with insulation material therebetween by laying the external skin down with the outer side lowermost,   applying an adhesive to the inner face of the external skin,   applying liquid foam reactants over the adhesive, applying an internal skin over the liquid foam reactants and heating the sandwich thus formed in an oven to form the composite insulating panel;   aligning mounting rails along at least portion of the external face of a skin; and   fastening the rails to the skin;   wherein the adhesive acts to prevent delamination of the inner face of the external skin and the insulation.   
     
     
         29 . The method as claimed in  claim 28 , comprising the steps of drilling holes in the skin, inserting internal sleeves into the holes, and tightening bolts in the sleeves to splay the sleeve and clamp to the inner surface of the skin. 
     
     
         30 . The method as claimed in  claim 28 , comprising the steps of drilling holes in the skin, inserting internal sleeves into the holes, and tightening bolts in the sleeves to splay the sleeve and clamp to the inner surface of the skin, and comprising the step of fixing the rail to the panel using the bolts.